Balanced tire and balancing method

ABSTRACT

A tire, balanced with respect to the wheel upon which it is mounted, utilizes a plurality of weights. These weights are in the form of indicia mounted upon the sidewalls of the tire, rather than upon the wheel, and are arcuately distributed to achieve both the required balance and a predetermined, highly visible, identifying and/or decorative effect which makes the tire readily recognizable and easily identifiable. An improved method of balancing a tire in accordance with the invention is also disclosed.

United States Patent Turoczi, Jr.

[451 May 16, 1972 [54] BALANCED TIRE AND BALANCING METHOD [72} Inventor:Alexander Turoczi, Jr., R. D. #1, P. O.

Box 113, Bath, Pa. 18014 [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.:97,938

[52] US. Cl. ..l56/75,152/353, 156/110 R,

156/116 [51] Int. Cl. ..G0lm U32, 1329c 27/10, B32b 31/00 [58]FieldofSearch ..152/353; l56/75,l10 R, 116

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,245,355 6/1941 Mullen..l56/75 3,352,732 11/1967 Darr ..156/75 Primary Examiner-William J. VanBalen Attorney-Barry Moyerman 57 ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 2 Drawing FiguresBALANCED TIRE AND BALANCING METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fieldof the Invention The invention relates to land vehicles, wheels andaxles. More particularly, it relates to wheels of all types upon whichinflatable rubber or rubber-like tires are mounted and wherein it isdesired to overcome the inherent imbalance of the tires by the use ofcorrective weights.

2. Prior Art Tire balancing requires, as a first step, the measuring ofimbalance in a wheel-mounted tire. Two methods of measuring imbalanceare currently employed. In the first method, called static" balancing,tire imbalance is measured after removing the wheel-mounted tire fromthe vehicle. The second method, called dynamic balancing, measuresimbalance with the wheel-mounted tire still on the vehicle.

Appropriate apparatus for measuring wheel imbalance is well known and isdisclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,301,958 and 3,164,996. Inboth dynamic or static" balancing, the balancing apparatus normallygives a readout" which includes: (a) the total weight in ounces neededto correct the inherent imbalance of the tire and (b) the sector or fanwithin which the corrective weight must be confined. Customarily, thetotal weight required is divided into two equal portions (when weightsare to be placed on only one side of the wheel) or four equal portions(when weights are to be placed on both sides of the wheel). Theseweights are then clamped on the rims of the wheels at the intersectionsof the radii defining the sector and the circumferential rim. As usedhenceforth herein, will designate the angle of fan or the angulardistance between the sector-defining radii as indicated in the read out.

The current practice of clamping weights onto wheel rims, not only makesfor an unseemly appearance, but is deleterious to the magnesium-chromewheels which are popular for sports cars. Magnesium-chrome rims are softand easily damaged, and since rims of this material are normallyselected for their beauty of shape and design, it is common practicetoday to avoid balancing these wheels altogether whenever possible.Further, contact with curbing or other obstructions can displace orknock off weights affixed in this manner. While it has been suggested inU.S. Pat. No. 2,640,727 that weights be concealed beneath the rim, thisis not conveniently done.

Additionally, there must be recognition, albeit reluctantly, that welive in an age of increasing lawlessness. Tire theft from automobilesand other vehicles is on the increase. Thus, were the means forbalancing wheels one which affected the appearance of the tire making itunique, instantly recognizable from a distance and highly personal inappearance, theft would be discouraged due to the miscreants fear ofeasy detection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly summarized, the invention comprises abalanced tire which achieves its balance by the use of a plurality ofbalancing indicia-shaped weights permanently affixed or adhered to thesidewalls thereof in a highly visible manner. These dualfunctioningweights are of a predetermined number adapted, for example, to spell outthe Christian name of the individual owner (e.g., ABE) or the name ofthe corporate owner (e.g., ACE TRUCKING).

The unit weight and location of the individual weights are determined asa function of the read-out of the balancing device utilized. Thus, inthe method of the invention, the total balancing weight required isdivided by the number of indicia desired to give the unit weight neededper indicia. Then, Indicia having this unit weight are circumferentiallyspaced apart over the sector determined by the balancing device andfanned over an arcuate sidewall portion. If desired, the tire may beoverbalanced on one side by use of more weight than indicated and thencompensating weights arranged evenly about the bisector of 4a, on adiametrically opposed arc to give two decorated arcuate portions insteadof just one. Further, the technique can be used to either perfonn allbalancing on one side of the tire or, by halving the weight requirementper side, on both sides of the tire.

The weights are preferably rubber and may incorporate light-reflectivematerial (e.g., glass micro-spheres) or decorative metallic particles.They are permanently affixed to the tire using rubber cement, epoxyadhesive formulations or mechanical fasteners. The tire is thuspermanently balanced and marked for easy identification without any needfor placing weights on or in contact with the wheel. This constructionis particularly suitable for use with the magnesium wheels discussedabove and serves, inter alia, to discourage theft.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improvedmethod of balancing which eliminates clamping or otherwise fixing,weights on wheel rims.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a balanced tirewhich is attractive and easily identifiable and which can be marked withany legend or design predetermined by the user.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of balancingautomobile wheels that is especially applicable to wheels withmagnesium-chrome rims.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a balanced tirewhich is of particular use for identification of the tires used by tirerental companies, bus companies, governmental agencies and contractors.Such tires can be used not only on cars, trucks and airplanes but alsoon equipment such as backhoes, compressors, cranes, graders, housemoving equipment and the like.

These and other objects will be more readily apparent to those skilledin the art from a consideration of the accompanying drawing and detaileddescription of exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation of abalanced tire embodying my invention mounted on a magnesium wheel.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on 22 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, FIG.1 shows a tire, generally 10, mounted on a wheel, generally 11. The tireincludes an outer sidewall 12 and an inner sidewall 13 on either side ofa tread 14. Sidewall 12 terminates in a bead l5 and, similarly, sidewall13 terminates in a bead 16. The wheel 12 includes a hub 17, an insiderim 18 and an outside rim 19. Tire 10 is conventionally mounted on wheel11 by engagement between beads 16 and 15 and rims l8 and 19,respectively and engagement is maintained by suitable pneumaticpressure.

Any suitable balancing device is used to determine the total amount ofcorrective weight required and the location and extent of the angle q),which is the angular distance between the sector-defining radii 20 and21. This same determination also fixed the location of bisector 22 andof the portion 23 thereof which is diametrically opposed to the sectorbetween the indicated radii.

FIG. 1 is a combined drawing which illustrates two embodiments of theinvention. In the first embodiment, it is desired to personalize thetire 12 with the five-letter name PATSY. It has been conventionallydetermined that an imbalance of 10 ounces exists and that is 45. Aplurality of alphabetical indicia 25, having a weight of 2 ounces each,are affixed to sidewall 12 evenly spaced along a sector between radii 20and 21. The weights are made of rubber and, as seen in FIG. 2, are inthis embodiment mounted on the sidewall with a coating of epoxy resin26.

A second embodiment of the invention, also illustrated in FIG. 1,utilizes five indicia 25 which weighs 2.2 oz. each and thus give, forthe five-letter name, a total weight of 11 ounces thereby exceeding thedesired corrective weight by 1 ounce. This overbalance (which may becreated deliberately) is compensated for by the use of other indicia,here the single indicia 27 in the shape of a crossed flag. These otherindicia total 1 ounce in weight (i.e. the excess of the previously addedweight over the corrective weight) and are evenly spaced about bisectorportion 23. A plurality of such weights may be used, arcuately andevenly spaced about portion 23. it is preferred that the distance fromhub 17 to the arcuate center lines of indicia 25 and 23 be equal,although both distance and weight can be adjusted to maintain correctivedifferential conditions while achieving a wide variety of previouslydetermined decorative effects.

Were it desired to mark both sidewalls 12 and 13 in the same manner thiscould be done (in the first example) by 1- ounce weights, five beingmounted on each sidewall in overlying sectorial registration. Wheredecorative indicia 27 are also desired, one uses, forexample, 10alphabetical indicia 25, each weighing 1.1 ounces and counterbalanceswith two indicia 27 each weighing 0.5 ounces. Other possibilities willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Although attaching the indicia to the sidewall is preferably byadhesion, any securing means which will permanently, and without damage,accomplish this purpose falls within my inventive concept.

Weights are preferably supplied in standard increments of 0.25 ounces byvarying their size and/or thickness. It is a simple matter to supplythese weights in the form of an alphanumeric series and decorativeshapes to create infinite decorative and legend-bearing effects.

Further, by modifying the indicia to include a coating of reflectantmaterial, the tire provides night-time identification and safely.

Thus, the balanced wheel and balancing method described not only achievethe aforementioned objects, but provide safety, beauty, and economypreviously unavailable.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, suchdescription is not exhaustive of the various possible permutations ofthe invention. Since it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat numerous changes and modifications may be made, it is not intendedthat the invention be construed as limited to the specific embodimentsdisclosed. Rather, its scope is to be limited only by a reasonableinterpretation of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. in a method of balancing a tire mounted upon a wheel, wherein abalancing device is used to indicate (a) the total amount of weightneeded to correct imbalance and (b) the sector within which correctiveweight must be confined, the improvement comprising:

a. aflixing a first predetermined number of indicia whose total weightis at least equal to the required corrective weight to a sidewall ofsaid tire, said indicia being arcuately and evenly spaced within saidsector;

b. affixing other indicia, whose total weight equals the amount, if any,by which said added weight exceeds the corrective weight, on anothergenerally coplanar portion of the same sidewall, said other indiciabeing arcuately and evenly spaced about the diametrically opposedcontinuation of the bisector of said sector;

whereby said tire is simultaneously provided with balancing weights andwith a highly visible, predetermined legend.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first indicia are of substantiallyequal weight.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the total weight of said first indiciaequals the required corrective weight and where, consequently, no otherindicia are utilized.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein all of said indicia are di vided intotwo groups, each group having an equal weight, one group of indiciabeing affixed to one sidewall of the tire and the other group beingaffixed to the other sidewall of the tire both groups of indicia beingpositioned in overlying sectorial registration.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein all of said indicia are divided intotwo groups, each group having an equal weight, one

ggoup of indicia being affixed to one sidewall of the tire and t e othergroup being affixed to the other sidewall of the tire both groups ofindicia being positioned in overlying sectorial registration.

* t t IIK 101036 MIN

1. In a method of balancing a tire mounted upon a wheel, wherein abalancing device is used to indicate (a) the total amount of weightneeded to correct imbalance and (b) the sector within which correctiveweight must be confined, the improvement comprising: a. affixing a firstpredetermined number of indicia whose total weight is at least equal tothe required corrective weight to a sidewall of said tire, said indiciabeing arcuately and evenly spaced within said sector; b. affixing otherindicia, whose total weight equals the amount, if any, by which saidadded weight exceeds the correctiVe weight, on another generallycoplanar portion of the same sidewall, said other indicia beingarcuately and evenly spaced about the diametrically opposed continuationof the bisector of said sector; whereby said tire is simultaneouslyprovided with balancing weights and with a highly visible, predeterminedlegend.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first indicia are ofsubstantially equal weight.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the totalweight of said first indicia equals the required corrective weight andwhere, consequently, no other indicia are utilized.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein all of said indicia are divided into two groups, eachgroup having an equal weight, one group of indicia being affixed to onesidewall of the tire and the other group being affixed to the othersidewall of the tire - both groups of indicia being positioned inoverlying sectorial registration.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein allof said indicia are divided into two groups, each group having an equalweight, one group of indicia being affixed to one sidewall of the tireand the other group being affixed to the other sidewall of the tire -both groups of indicia being positioned in overlying sectorialregistration.